The island of Iwo Jima was one of the fiercest battles of the Pacific Theater in World War II and the first attack on the Japanese Home Islands. Because of the geographic importance of Iwo Jima, as well as the psychological damage of invaders on the Japanese homeland, the defenders on Iwo Jima fought tenaciously to slow the Allied advance. When the US landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945 they found the beach eerily quiet; the Japanese did not open fire until the US Marines had advanced inland. When the fighting began, however, the Marines took heavy fire from the concealed Japanese artillery and machine gun positions - especially from Mount Suribachi, a 500 foot dormant volcano which towers over the southern part of the island. By February 23, Suribachi was cut off from the rest of the island, connected only by it's underground tunnel network, small groups of Marines were sent ahead as scouts to search the mountain, and finding little enemy presence, a platoon was sent up with a small American flag. Then Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal wanted this flag for himself, so a smaller group of Marines was sent up with a much larger flag, and photographer Joe Roesenthal happened to tag along. It was when the second flag was raised on February 23, 1945 that he took the iconic picture "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima", and later won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography. Despite this morale boost, Iwo Jima was not declared secure until over a month later, on March 26.

Learn when and how one wears the camoflauged Army Combat Uniform or the dressy blue Army Service Unifrom as well as approved hair, tattoos, jewelry, and other aspects of personal appearance by clicking the above image.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) determines if you are eligible to join and what jobs you qualify for. Click the image to read more about the ASVAB and test your knowledge with the two practice tests.

For Department of Defense personnel and others authorized to access Army Knowledge Online (AKO), you will need to click on the above image to find links on how to access AKO or obtain assistance with your official AKO account.

Don't be the poor guy at boot camp that salutes a sergeant or casually walks up to a captain. Click the above image to take a look at all of the enlisted, warrant officer, and officer ranks and memorize them.

The US Armed Forces uses a phonetic alphabet to help when communicating. It will prove to make your life better than "OK." In fact, if you click the above image and memorize this system, you'll find life to be "Oscar Kilo."

Save yourself some push-ups from your drill sergeant at basic training by clicking the above image to read and memorize the Seven Core Army Values (LDRSHIP), General Orders to all soldiers, and the Soldier's Creed.